Arts council briefs

With the deadline set for Sunday, May 3, there are a couple of days left to nominate local students for the Whistler Arts Councils annual Art Awards.

The council will award $500 to a Grade 12 graduate from each of Whistler, Pemberton and Mount Currie, and $100 to a graduating student from each of Myrtle Philip and Spring Creek Community Schools and Signal Hill Elementary in Pemberton for achievement in the visual, literary, performing or media arts.

The council will also be awarding a $250 bursary to a student in any grade from Myrtle Philip and Spring Creek Community Schools, Whistler Secondary School, Alta Lake School, Signal Hill Elementary School, Pemberton Secondary, and Xit'olacw Community School in Mount Currie who will be attending an art camp or program over the summer.

The Arts Council has been recognizing the artistic achievements of local students since 1987.

Application forms are available at each school and from the Whistler Arts Council. For more information call 604-935-8419 or go to www.whistlerartscouncil.com.

First Annual ArtWalk calls for entries

Whistlers vibrant gallery scene will extend into non-traditional public spaces this summer with the first annual ArtWalk in the village.

Approximately 15 spaces in cafes, retail outlets and businesses will exhibit 15-20 artists throughout the month of July.

The makeshift galleries will all host receptions with their feature artists in attendance on July 3.

The Arts Council will publish a brochure mapping out each ArtWalk exhibit and reception.

The initiative has been scheduled to coincide with Whistlers busy mid-summer season when residential and tourist foot traffic in the village is at a high.

"ArtWalk exists to bring art to the public and to bridge the gap between tourism, business and culture," said Arts Council Director Doti Niedermayer.

"It is also an excellent sales opportunity for local artists who have few opportunities to exhibit their work in Whistler."

The exhibit is open to artists from Lions Bay to Lillooet of all visual arts media including sculpture, fibre arts, painting and photography. Host galleries will select their feature artists. Eighty per cent of sales will go to the artists, 10 per cent to the venue and the remaining 10 per cent to the Arts Council for marketing and administration costs.

Artists have until May 31 to apply for representation in the ArtWalk and will be notified by June 14.

Those interested in exhibiting should contact the Whistler Arts Council at 604-935-8419 for application forms and requirements.

Bizarre Bazaar calls for new crop of crafty folk

Whos thinking about Christmas when summer hasnt even started yet?

Artisans and craftmakers, thats who.

Vendor applications for Bizarre Bazaar, Whistlers annual Christmas-season arts and crafts fair are being accepted from now until Aug. 13.

The 16
th
annual Bazaar will extend over two days this year, beginning Friday, Dec. 3 and ending Saturday, Dec. 4.